Casino proposal debated in Millbury

Thursday

Aug 1, 2013 at 9:50 PMAug 1, 2013 at 9:53 PM

By Donna Boynton, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

MILLBURY — Opportunity or detriment to the community? That was the debate Thursday night, as residents were given the opportunity to listen to the casino proposal and let their voices be heard at a forum at Millbury High School

"Whether we agree or disagree, we are all here for one reason: because we care for the town of Millbury," said resident Brian Stowell.

Only Millbury residents were allowed to speak at the forum, which was moderated by Town Moderator Thomas Fox.

Mass Gaming and Entertainment, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, has proposed a $200 million slots casino on 35 acres on MCcracken Road, near Route 146 and the Shoppes at Blackstone Valley.

The casino would be 110,000 to 115,000 square feet, with up to 1,250 slot machines, a full-service restaurant and other food venues, live music area and a day spa. The casino would be open 24 hours a day.

On July 23, the town and MGE signed a host community agreement. Under that agreement, the town would receive $3.25 million annually, which would increase by 2.5 percent each year beginning in the second year of operations. MGE would pay all consultant and legal costs and permitting fees associated with the project. In addition, MGE would pay the town an unrestricted $500,000 before the start of construction.

In addition, MGE would also garage all company vehicles in town and pay all excise taxes in Millbury, as well as meals tax revenue. Millbury residents would be given preference when hiring for the construction work and 400 to 450 permanent jobs associated with the casino. MGE would also make all public infrastructure improvements as required by the Planning Board, construct a 350-square-foot police department office at the casino, prepare a public safety plan, and reimburse the town up to $50,000 per year for increased public safety costs.

A town-wide referendum is scheduled for Sept. 24.

MGE said the project would also improve traffic flow in the McCracken Road/Route 146 area, with traffic analysts saying the casino would minimize its impact on local roads.

One resident suggested the traffic improvements should include a second exit and entrance from the Shoppes at Blackstone Valley, which currently only has one entrance.

Greg Carlin, CEO of Rush Street Gaming, said the company has focused on Central Massachusetts for a regional entertainment center. Mr. Carlin said the casino would draw patrons from within a 45-minute drive time.

"We hadn't thought about Millbury for the first project we were working on and thankfully, someone introduced us to the town when we didn't move forward with that project," Mr. Carlin said, in reference to an earlier proposal for a casino in Worcester that the company abandoned. "The location in Millbury is better than what was next door, with its access off highway, the (Massachusetts Turnpike), and the businesses at the Shoppes at Blackstone Valley. We are very excited about the project."

Mr. Stowell said the town can't afford to pass on a casino and the opportunity it brings.

"I feel this partnership will help the town of Millbury recoup, recover and revive a lot of financial woes it has faced and potential woes to come," Mr. Stowell said, adding that the public safety departments have struggled to keep up with the growing town and streets in need of repair.

"The millions of dollars the town stands to gain now won't solve every problem, but a huge relief and benefit to the town that it may never see again. Wheelabrator has not poisoned us, the mall has not destroyed us ... I believe this project will be a huge shot in the arm to make the town a better place than it already is."

But not everyone in town supports the casino project.

No Slots in Milbury is an opposition group of residents that has formed. Residents opposed to the casino said the slots would lead to property devaluation, increased crime and traffic, increased insurance costs, addiction and environmental decline.

The group called the proposed casino "economic cannibalism, not economic development."

Lesa McWalters, a Maple Street resident, is president of No Slots in Millbury. She pressed town officials and MGE about how they were going to guarantee the safety of the town's children given that the casino is proposed to be within two miles of each of the town's schools.

"The proposed site is within 1.9 miles of our two elementary schools, 1.4 miles from the Assumption School and less than one mile from the high school. In other words, the casino is within walking distance of all of our schools," Ms. McWalters said.

Ms. McWalters also said casinos lead to an increase in crime, drugs, drunken driving, aggravated assault, robbery and rape.

"Gamblers will be leaving the slots parlor after drinking all day, the same time that buses will be leaving to bring our students home. There will be 2,248 children at risk five days a week," Ms. McWalters said.

Meanwhile, MGE officials said they would be responsive and work with the town as the project goes on and after it is constructed, as it has in Des Plains, Ill., and Philadelphia, Pa., where it has other casinos.

"We will adapt as necessary," said David Patent, president and chief operating officer of Rush Street Gaming.

Resident Alex Belisle was skeptical about the traffic improvement plans.

"Everything you have heard about improvements to the roadway has all been said before," Mr. Belisle said of the years-long traffic problems in the area. Mr. Belisle added that the decision about the casino should be made by those in town who are most affected: residents along Greenwood Street and McCracken Road. "They have already been thrown under the bus. This will throw them off the cliff."

One resident who moved to Millbury three years ago from Grafton is a construction worker who said the construction jobs and the permanent jobs that would be created by the casino are good jobs.

"If this doesn't work out in Millbury, my mother-in-law has 12 acres in Grafton across from the Indian reservation," he said.

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the casino proposal Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.